Sutton postponement over 'abundance of caution' around trans player

Sutton United play in the fifth tier of women's football

Sutton United's women's team say they decided to postpone last weekend's fixture against Ebbsfleet United "through an abundance of caution" following the club's signing of a transgender player.

Sunday's match in the London & South East Regional Premier Division was postponed less than three hours before kick-off.

Sutton goalkeeper Blair Hamilton, who is openly transgender, made her debut for the club in a 6-0 victory against Haywards Heath on 25 August.

She was signed by Sutton manager Lucy Clark, who is also transgender.

Ebbsfleet said the match was postponed as Sutton were "unable to fulfil the fixture".

Some reports have claimed some of Hamilton's team-mates did not want to play alongside the goalkeeper but the BBC has not been able to verify this.

Sutton told the BBC that "a lot of misinformation has been spread" and that the players "fully support the manager and Blair".

"Certain officials within the club thought it was best to postpone the game to check on the legalities around the situation, and in order to avoid negative attention and hate," added the club, which is in the fifth tier of women's football in England.

In a statement on the club's website on Wednesday, Sutton said: "Following recent media reports regarding our women’s team and a recent player addition, the board would like to take this opportunity to express our full support of Lucy Clark in her decision to recruit based on ability, character and commitment to the team - criteria that apply to all players and the values of Sutton United Football Club."

The Football Association's transgender policy states that English law allows separate competitions to be organised for men and women.

However, it states players may apply to play in a league of their "affirmed gender" - that is, the gender they identify as, rather than their sex assigned at birth - and each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis, determined by the "safety of the applicant and other players" and "fair competition".

Women's Rights Network said: "How long must women and girl footballers wait for their governing body to wake up and stop this outright destruction of their sport?

"We call on the FA to update its policy with clear guidelines to protect women’s football."

In 2019, Hamilton told BBC Scotland "there is absolutely no advantage on the pitch" following hormone therapy.

Sutton said they had followed all FA protocols and that Hamilton's involvement in the women's game is "fully compliant with all legal and regulatory guidelines".

"The wellbeing and safety of all our players is of paramount importance to us and it was through an abundance of caution on this subject that the decision was made to postpone the match on Sunday," they added.

"We will not tolerate any behaviour that undermines our values or puts anyone’s health or safety in jeopardy."

Sutton insist their future fixtures will go ahead as planned.

The club’s website lists Hamilton as their only goalkeeper. Marni Humphries, who played in goal in the first game of the season, is no longer listed and no details have been given on her apparent departure. The club’s reserve team for women has no goalkeepers listed.

In November 2023, a group of 48 MPs and 27 peers signed a letter urging the FA to change its rules on transgender inclusion to "protect women and girls" in football.

It said the existing rules undermined fairness in the women's game.

It came after several teams reportedly withdrew from games against a recreational side in Yorkshire after a shot by a transgender player injured an opponent.